SUMMARY OF THE ECSTASY OF RITA JOE

 

 THE ECSTASY OF RITA JOE

George Ryga’s, The Ecstasy of Rita Joe is a play about a young Indian girl who comes to the city with great dreams. Her dreams get scattered as she enters the city Vancouver.  She becomes one of the victims of the white man’s violence and control. The Ecstasy of Rita Joe describes the cruel life in the city for the native Canadians, as experienced by Rita Joe. This play explores the supremacy of the Whites towards the native Canadians. The protagonist of this play Rita Joe faces a world of prostitution and abuse.

In the beginning act the magistrate reads over the charges levied upon Rita Joe. She is charged for prostitution, assault, stealing, vagrancy, shop lifting and for transmitting sexual diseases. The action of the play develops through the character of Rita Joe. Ryga uses flashback technique to narrate the story of Rita Joe.

 

    Rita has lived in the reservation during her childhood days along with her sister Elieen and father 

David Joe. She picks berries and plays with her sister. David Joe refuses to sell Rita to a white man. 

Rita plays the role of a mother and takes care of her younger sister. She moves to the city, where she 

finds a job in a tyre company. She was sexually harassed by three policemen when she was returning 

home from her tyre company. She was caught hold by the police and charged her for theft.

In the court standing before the magistrate she realizes that no one is supporting her case.  Her teacher Miss. Donahue and Mr. Homer accuses Rita in the court. Rita Joe’s father remains mute before the white people. In act ii Rita is imprisoned for 30 days. Father Andrew comes to meet Rita Joe. He gives her a cigarrete. He confides her to confess her sins to Jesus. But Rita is not ready to confess. She reminds us one of the stories of her Uncle. She claims that the “White people came with their Bible to Canada. They entered the land, gave their Bible to the native people and took over the land”.

 Jamie Paul, Rita's boyfriend, shows her his tiny room and reveals his affection. Both dreamt of a richly life. The Murderers appear on stage. The Murderers attack and kills Jaimie. Four murderers rape Rita Joe and kills. Rita’s father enters carrying Jaimie’s body. He is surrounded by Mourners. They place his body next to Rita’s. They all kneel around the two bodies.